When you thought it was safe to take a hot shower without worrying about how much water you’re wasting, you realize a leaky hot water heater has breached your home. While the problem can often be dealt with quickly if left until later, then repair costs will be significantly higher and more difficult to deal with.
How to Check if Your Hot Water Heater is Leaking?
If your hot water heater is leaking, it can cause a lot of damage. If you notice water dripping from different areas of the ceiling, then you need to check to see if it is coming from the bottom. The first thing to do is check if the leak is actually coming from your hot water heater or not. If the area is wet, there is a good chance that it is coming from your hot water heater. If it seems like your entire house has a damp smell, then it probably comes from there. If your water heater is leaking at the bottom, it could mean that there is a leak coming from near the flue pipe. A plumber can find out if this is the case and then help you fix the problem. The other way is you can hire a professional Plumber Essendon wide to tell you when things are not right.
Common Causes of a Leaky Hot Water Heater
There are many reasons for leaks in a hot water heater. The most common cause is a lack of upkeep, such as replacing the filter now and then. However, there are five other things that you could check for as well. Faulty valves, loose gas fittings, corroded pipe joints, or clogged drain pipes. If your water heater is leaking because none of these factors apply to it, then you might need a new one soon.
There are many reasons for a hot water heater to start leaking, one of the most common being an airlock in the pipes, which allows air to seep into the hot water and cause it to leak. The five most common causes of a leaking hot water heater are:
- A faulty valve. When a hot water heater is leaking, it could be because there is a leaky valve in the piping system. This means that one of your hot water heater valves needs to be replaced.
- Leaky gas fittings. Most older gas models have another piece of equipment called the gas safety valve that is used to release the gas should there be a problem with this part of the hot water heater. If you have an older model, you might want to take a look at your gas safety valve. If the gas safety valve is in good working condition and you still have a leaky hot water heater, you could have leaky gas fittings.
- A clogged drain line or drain pan. This can usually be fixed fairly easily by draining out any sediment or debris that is blocking the drain line at the bottom of the tank.
- Worn-out plumbing fittings or damaged pipes (ductwork). If the hot water heater is still over ten years old, you might want to consider replacing it with a newer model. This is a more involved repair that should be done by a plumber.
- Leaking propane tank. You can check the propane tank by removing the cap and placing a match on top or near one side of the tank. If you see a flame, that means your tank is leaking.
- Leaking gas line or gas safety valve (check to make sure all air is out of it). This could be due to worn-out plumbing fittings, bad connections, or even a cracked gas line or bladder in the safety valve itself.
- Bad thermostat (replace if necessary). This could be due to a bad connection or a bad relay that controls the operation of the thermostat.
- Bad water faucet. To test the faucet, turn on the cold water at the main shut-off valve, then turn on the hot water at the shut-off valve for that particular faucet. If you do not have two separate shut-offs, turn both valves on at once, but DO NOT let the water run. If the water does not immediately come, test the faucet by turning it off and then back on, ensuring there is enough pressure to run hard water through it.
Conclusion
If your hot water heater is leaking at the bottom, you will want to check on it as soon as possible. When checking for leaks, you need to be careful not to touch any pipe or main connections as it can cause an electrical shock. You should also make sure that you turn off the power and call a professional to fix the hot water repairs Essendon wide issue.